Career Management Center Makes Positive Virtual Pivot to Support Business Students
Following suit with all departments and divisions at San Diego State University, the Career Management Center (CMC) within the Fowler College of Business, acted quickly to move services online in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Career Management Center immediately shifted all student appointments either to Zoom or phone,” said Beverly Bracker, director of the Career Management Center. “Right away we began researching and compiling resources to help students find remote/virtual opportunities, micro-internships, projects, and opportunities to obtain no or low-cost training and certifications to help them build the skills that employers are seeking.”
Founded in 2014 as the Graduate Career Management Center, the CMC expanded to service both undergraduate and graduate students during the Fall 2019 semester. The CMC focuses on supporting students by offering business resources, hosting expert speaker events, and facilitating experiential learning opportunities to help them prepare to land a full-time position after graduation. The CMC offers students a wide variety of career services and support including LinkedIn profile reviews, job search strategies, networking tips, salary negotiation coaching, resume building, career assessments, sample interview questions, and much more.
“One of the most valuable things that we offer is practice interviews,” said Bracker. “ It can truly make all the difference in preparing a student to do their absolute best in a real interview. We tailor the practice questions we ask, to the position they are interviewing for, and the student receives objective, honest and straightforward feedback, and the tools to improve responses. We also now coach students on lighting, sound, background, and other factors to present a professional image in virtual interviews ”
Since its inception, the CMC has helped thousands of business students get on the right track with their career goals, students like Vincent Young (Management, ‘20). During his junior year, Young met Greg Tanneberger, CMC’s professional development & external relations specialist. He was looking for a summer internship and Tanneberger helped him secure a position with a medical technology company, Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD).
“What I enjoy most about advising our students is that they often inspire me,” said Tanneberger. “Often, I hear about the challenges that students have faced to even have an opportunity to pursue advanced education, and then I am moved by the perseverance that each demonstrated to overcome those challenges.”
Young continued utilizing CMC’s services during his time at SDSU and when he needed advice for an upcoming interview with a Fortune 500 company he knew exactly where to go.
“Here at SDSU, we are fortunate to have the Career Management Center which serves to assist in the interview process since interviews specific to business can be different than interviews conducted in other fields,” said Young.
A Positive Pivot to Virtual
Following university guidelines, the CMC moved all of its services, resources, and career events online. Despite the change, the shift yielded some positive results. This summer, the CMC and Fowler College of Business hosted a personal branding workshop with industry expert and general manager of MillerCoors, Mark Lindner. Based in Pittsburg, Lindner delivered his presentation virtually to nearly 100 students and recent alumni across the country.
“Students at SDSU are resilient, and I think that the rapid transition to an online environment has really illustrated that,” said Jill Lackey, business career development coordinator. “Students have learned to not only quickly adapt, but to take charge of their narratives, both personally and professionally.”
Continuing to find creative ways to adapt to the virtual learning environment, the CMC focused on creating digital resources for Fowler business students. During the summer, the team developed YouTube tutorials, a new ‘Career Success Handbook’, ready-to-go virtual presentations, and resources for finding virtual/remote jobs and internships.
The CMC staff have also focused their time on engaging with students on social media, specifically utilizing the college’s Instagram channel to publish short videos and surveys to connect and capture student feedback.
“It's definitely been a season for change and adaptability,” said Michelle Svay, internship/career fair coordinator. “I am in awe at how my colleagues have been able to adapt so quickly to still provide services to our students. On the flip side, I am also very proud that our students have been able to transition to the online format to continue their studies.”
Supporting Students
The Career Management Center is made up of five staff members who are dedicated to supporting Fowler College of Business students. “Each person in the Career Management Center is really driven to do everything possible to help students succeed,” said Bracker. “We have an extremely dedicated team. Even if you don’t know what kind of help you need, you will likely get more than you expect from an appointment with the CMC.”
Brandon Goodwin (MIS, ‘20) can attest to the CMC’s support. Based on the recommendation from one of his professors, Goodwin looked to the CMC to help him gain a better understanding of the industry in which he was hoping to acquire a position in. The team provided Goodwin with the tools and resources he needed to nail an interview with the consulting arm of one of the Big Four accounting organizations, KPMG.
“If you are even thinking about going to the Career Management Center, then go. For those who already have an idea of what they want to do, they can provide many resources to better understand the industry and what recruiters are looking for,” said Goodwin.
Fowler students are encouraged to meet with a career advisor within the Career Management Center at least once a semester. Appointments can be made in Handshake, or by emailing any of the CMC staff members directly.
Career Advice During COVID-19
Tina Tan, M.A, N.C.C., Career Advisor, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
“Keep at it. There are still many opportunities out there for you! You just have to search for them. If you aren't sure where to start or how to find them, reach out to the Career Management Center for help. That's what we're here for!”
Michelle Svay, M.A., Internship/Career Fair Coordinator
“Don't give up on the search! There are still opportunities out there, you may just have to be a little bit smarter in your search. Keep yourself updated on the career events happening on campus and attend/watch as many as you can! Employers who are looking to hire are making more of an effort (especially now) to engage with students. And, as always, make an appointment with someone in the CMC if you need help!”
Jill Lackey, M.S., Business Career Development Coordinator
“Don't stop moving forward. This may seem like a derailment, but really, it is simply a detour. Within a few years, you will look back on this time and think 'man, that was hard', but you will never be tomorrow where you find yourself today if you just keep moving forward. There are still jobs and career opportunities available, so do not let the atmosphere of fear slow you down.”
Greg Tanneberger, J.D., Professional Development & External Relations Specialist
I have three pieces of advice. First, don't give up. There are great opportunities still out there and many companies are continuing their search for their future talent. Second, if you need a little help, that is okay. Contact any of us at the Fowler Career Management Center. We may be able to give you a boost in ways that you never expected. And third, now is the time to really define your personal branding. As the job market gets more and more competitive, it is imperative for you to understand your competitive advantages--or in other words, how you stand out amongst the crowd. Having a strong grasp of what unique contributions you can make to a company, or the value you will add, can make the difference in getting hired next to other students who have similar resumes as you. Make sure that you are able to back up your value through accomplishments that you had in school, organizations, internships, or other professional roles. Quantify those accomplishments when possible.
Fall 2020 Plans
For the Fall 2020 semester, the Career Management Center will continue to serve Fowler College of Business students online. Students who utilize the CMC’s services can expect to receive personalized attention from someone who focuses specifically on the needs of business students and is well versed in what is going on with the current job market. The CMC will also provide students access to career resources like online tools and strengths assessments.
“Students can schedule an appointment with me to discuss any career-related topics,” said Tina Tan, career advisor. “I can provide career advising to both graduate and undergraduate business Fowler students. I'm also a certified CliftonStrengths Assessments coach if students are interested in taking the assessment and learning about their strengths.”
It is also recommended that business students attend at least one career-related event per semester. Below is a list of upcoming events being held by the Career Management Center:
Empower 1/2 Hour
The Career Management Center within the Fowler College of Business is hosting a new series for Fall 2020 semester called Empower 1/2 Hour. These half-hour sessions will empower you with knowledge, resources, and tools to be career-ready. Click here to view and register for upcoming sessions.
Sept. 23, 2020 | 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
A virtual event featuring The LinkedIn Guys, who previously led LinkedIn's student & alumni marketing team, and worked with thousands of recruiters and hiring managers to present. Their talk “Career Navigation in the Midst of the Coronavirus” will cover immediate and long-term career impacts of the pandemic, how to make the most of video interviews, how to stand out with recruiters and hiring managers, and focusing on industries and firms expected to hire through the crisis and beyond.
Oct. 9, 2020
Fowler College of Business Virtual Career Fair. Contact Michelle Svay at [email protected] for details.
To learn more about the Career Management Center and the services offered, please visit business.sdsu.edu/career.
